Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-02-11


Rail.
A special dispatch from Hartford, VT,
says: The railroad disaster on the Vermont
Central road at this place, by which proba-
bly, 40 passengers who were on board the
night express were killed and an equal num-
ber received more or less severe injuries has
inspired the people, not only of this section
but the community at large, with a sensation
of horror which win not he dispelled for
some time to come. Death came to
the unfortunate victims cf this
sad fatality in all its most
shocking forms, and those who have lostrela-
tives and friends are made to feel more keen
ly the bands of the destroyer Of their loved
ones so cruelty ushered out Of this world, The
thought also that they were hauled to de-
struction without the slightest opportunity
to prepare themselves for death is, in ITSELF
one of the saddest to many. Scarcely could
one imagine more fearful or frightful
circumstances surrounding the departure
of life than those present III this
dreadful disaster Everything Of a violent
nature is included in them 1t is possible
that some still possessed life at the time when
the ice was melted and were drowned; some
were killed outright by being crushed; others
were suffocated by the smoke, others were
slowly cremated, and there were some so
mangled that they died soon after being
rescued. No tongue can tell, no pen can re-
late the torures endured by many before
death put an end to their sutferings. Neither
can ever be told the thrilling scenes enacted
among the burning debris of the wreck,
which was huge funeral pyre to human
sacrifice, the desperate efforts to escape, the
deeds OF heroism, the last sad farewells and
the calm designations to fate; and then, too,
there is the thought that some Of the nno-
cent victims are destined to fill unknown
graves, away, from those whose remem-
brances of love might deck the mounds
which cover them and erect some shaft
which would keep their recollections fresh in
the minds of those Oh earth, To sum the
important news Of the accident CLEANED
o.day, it may be said that five more burned
bodies were rescued from the ruins of the
wrecked cars, and that aoout as many were
identified by friends.
How many were killed in this accident! is
the question oftenest asked. 1t is impoSSi-
BILE to state at this time. 1t is probable that
the exact number will never be known, for
there is little doubt that some bodies were
entirely DESTROYED. Many here still believe
that the total number will reach 60, at least.
This belief is based upon conjecture that
there are large number still beneath the
wreck of the third car from the rear. A more
conservative estimate would be 40 Mr.,
Ernest johnson, the undertaken here in
charge of the dead house, states that 30
bodies have been brought to that place.
counting all.
The valley is not depopulated, and yet
from the tracks on either side of the bridge
can be seen nothing but desolation, the
stream covered with ice in whose embrace
the waters of the White river are held as in
the grasp of giant, the hills ON either side
covered with snow, the trees and shrubs en-
cased in a mantle of the same, and above all
the leaden sky adds to the sombreness of the
wintry picture, fitting surroundings for the
| scene of wreck and ruin at the river
| Not "a dwelling i'll sight save Oscar Paine's,
about 100 yards distant, within whose walls
in the short space of forty-eight hours had
been carried the dead and dying, and in
| whose corn barn near by were the remains
ofseveral whose life had been crushed out by
the cruel heap of those cars down, down,
| down, fifty feet from the track above to the
| river below.
The bridge which was deck bridge, so
called, was all destroyed, leaving nothing
! but the two abutments and the three piers
standing, the huge granite blocks composing
| them bearing the marks Of fire, and the sur
face, scaling off, indicating the awful heat
that prevailed around them.
The ice covering the river had not been
broken through, save in two or three places
where the crash Of Sthe heavy iron
car wheels had fractured it, At the point
where the cars struck and aftarward burned
the ice melted, and in several places holes
had been made through which tho sandy bot
tom of the river could be seen covered by
about five feet of water
Nothing was left of the cars but iron rods,
brass lamps, shapeless and crushed, and
pieces of tin roofing.
One of the most affecting sights of all was
that presented by the body of the little son of
S. S Wescott of Burlington. 1t lay on the
dirt-covered floor of the dead house wrapped
about with piece of white cloth. His head
was half cleft in twain, while his childish
features were cut, crushed aud bloody. His
small white hands were calmly clasped upon
his bosom. He lay against the coffin which
contained the body Of his father, while his
little shoes-mos5 pitiful reics--stood on
the window sill above him. The father and
son were journeying home in the Pullman,
and both were asleep, the father lovingly
holding his boy in his arms. Both had
been instantly killed in the first great crash,
and were hurled some distance upon the ice,
safe from the flames Even in death the
father held his son. There they lay blood
covered, and those first upon the scene had
to turn their heads away from this most
affecting scene. While few heSitated to pull
out tho charTed corpseS none cared to
touch their bodies, and there they lay until
some one mustered up courage and determi-
nation enough to remove them. This Incl
dent of the accident is more frequently
spoken Of than any otter.
A young man named Fred Faulkner
boarded the train at the Junction Being
acquainted with the baggage MASTER h,
went into the baggage car just before the
train reached thebridge, and was engaged
with others in listening to relation of a fun
ny story when there came pull and sud
den stop which sent all flying in heap in
the forward end of the car. The story was
grave in an instant.
The investigation by the Vermont rail.
road commissioners into the cause of tho ac-
cident with the view Of ascertaining where
the blame lies, if any, will be held at the
White River junction House. The hearing
will probably last the whole of the week.
The commissioners VIII take The railroads
side of the hearing first. Clerk Watson OF
the board insp cted the railroad tacks upon
which the ill-fated train ran at tho time OF
the accident The 18th rail from the bridge
was found to be broken up into several
pieces The seventeenth rail was
nearly broken IN the middle, while
the remaining 16 rails were more or
less damaged. Ii is ST Ii thought that the
accident re suited from a broken rail--the
18th one undoubtedly-and that the last car,
the Puritan, was the first thrown from the
track and over the bridge, pulling the other
three after it, The Investigation however,
will probably bring out the full facts con
nected with the accident
Charles II. Pierce of White River juno.
tion, engineer of the wrecked truin is about
ag,11 hna il., 30